Stephen! Stephen! Stephen!

After nine years of satirizing right-wing punditry on The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert is retiring his faux-conservative character in order to take over for David Letterman as the host of the Late Show.

Photo: Kelly Garbato

Like Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and John Oliver of Last Week Tonight, Colbert excels at humorously skewering politicians, the media, and pop culture, all while exposing his audience to important news and issues—including the environment.

The final episode of The Colbert Report airs tonight. Here's a look back at some of our favorite tree-hugging moments.

A Stocking Full of Wind?

In June of this year, following President Obama's announcement of new carbon pollution standards (and what opponents call “the war on coal”), Colbert wonders what Santa would now give naughty kids for Christmas…

One BILLION Jobs!

In this 2011 segment about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, Colbert speaks with activist Bill McKibben, founder of 350, about exaggerations over how many jobs the project would create. (Keep in mind, the magic number is 35 permanent jobs.)

Sea, No Evil

When carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surpassed 400 parts per million in June 2012, Colbert noted plans by North Carolina Republicans to outlaw the use of climate models that predict sea-level rise. "If your science gives you a result you don't like, pass a law saying that the result is illegal. Problem solved!"

What Kind of Science Costs Only $1?

In an episode last January, Colbert points out the ridiculousness of anti–climate change arguments from people like Donald Drumpf and Fox & Friends—easy targets, we know, but still funny.

Flat-Land Enhancement

In an interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in June 2011, Colbert helps spread the word about the destructive practice of mountaintop-removal mining.

The Fracking Coloring Book

On hydraulic fracturing for natural gas: "It's like giving the earth an Alka-Seltzer, if the Alka-Seltzer shattered your internal organs so oil companies could harvest your juices."

F**k It

Following President Obama's release of the National Climate Assessment in May, Colbert makes a tongue-in-cheek case for doing nothing.

I'm Not a Scientist.

Here Colbert takes down the Republicans' new favorite phrase for deflecting climate change questions.

Heatsteria

In August 2008, Colbert lambasts Rush Limbaugh and Fox News for their claims that the heat index and Spongebob Squarepants are part of a government conspiracy to promote climate change.

Crappy Diem!

After a heat wave in Australia last year led its Bureau of Meteorology to add new colors to weather maps indicating temperatures above 125 degrees Fahrenheit, conservative commentator Erick Erickson said addressing climate change is pointless because India and China won't change (and we wouldn’t see the impacts for 100 years anyway). Colbert agrees: We should “crawl into bed with a cheesecake and wait for death.”

World War Three-Ply

In 2009, Colbert covered the controversy over old-growth forests being cut down to produce ultra-soft toilet paper. “Environmentalists, I swear, if you take away my plush toilet paper, I’m just going to use the next softest thing: spotted owls.”

Got a favorite enviro clip that we missed? Send us a link on Twitter or Facebook.

onEarth provides reporting and analysis about environmental science, policy, and culture. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of NRDC. Learn more or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.